"I'm a Jersey Devil and this is my new house," Sayreville-born frontman Jon Bon Jovi told the crowd that filled the NHL team's new home. Against a backdrop resembling a diner, the band opened by launching into the title song from its new album, "Lost Highway."

Optimism reigned among Newark officials - who are banking on the arena to help the city overcome a reputation of violence and poverty - and concertgoers, some of whom were on their first visit to Newark. Swarms of police officers patrolled the streets around the arena's soaring glass and brick facade, and more were stationed at the city's transit hubs as suburban visitors recorded first impressions.

"Everything went very smoothly," said Sue Myers, of Mendham, after leaving the arena. Added husband David, "We felt very safe."

For the most part, the pre- and post-concert city appeared secure, with a car fire in a Prudential Center lot quickly extinguished. Arena workers were able to get all the finishing touches in place on time. And the traffic nightmare some had predicted failed to materialize before and after the show.

"Right now, we're very happy with the way everything went tonight," Newark Police Director Garry McCarthy said shortly before midnight. Other than a few minor car accidents and the car fire, there were few problems, he said.

"So far, so good, considering it's the first night," McCarthy said. "But we're going to get better at it with a couple more shows under our belt."

The arena's day-long debut came with all the requisite opening-night flourishes, from a politician-studded ribbon-cutting at noon to a star-trodden red carpet at 5.

The carpet's parade of boldface names started with Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek, who cringed at the flashing cameras and admitted he wasn't used to such attention. But he said he was thrilled to see so many people gathered around the arena.

"People are here who don't even have tickets, so that's a good thing," Vanderbeek said. "I've been walking around for three or four hours, seeing people in different eating establishments, and it's just great to see."

Despite the stars from "The Sopranos" who also made the strut, the biggest carpet hubbub came when Newark Mayor Cory Booker and his date - Chanda Gibson, 33, of Jersey City - greeted the crowd of about 3,000 just after 6 p.m.

"This is not the first time I've walked down the carpet, but it's certainly the best one I've walked," said Booker, who earlier in the day called the arena "a testament to hope."